Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-05-06
United in Two Hours.


Pennsylvania House of Representa-
tives after traces of an old committee
report, came across document which
possesses a romatic interest and re-
calls somewhat exciting incident Of
social life at the State capital in 1865
which never got into PRINT, and was
known to but limited circle at the
time. The document is the original
House bill No. 2, of the Legislative
session OF 1866 the introduction
Of which at the first session
at which the House was fully
organized was the first act in the lesis-
lative career OF Matthew s. Quay, now
State Treasurer and United States
Senator elect. TWAS billto divorce
Mary Wilson Mcconnell from her hus-
band, Henry Floyd Mcconnell. Mrs.
Mcconnell was the young and hand
some daughter OF the then Gov.
Curtin, and thereby hangs the ro-
nance OF this story. Through the e.
forts OF Mr.. Quay and Senator Lowry.
of the Crawford district, this divorce
bill, without going to committee,
passed both houses Of the Legislature
IN less than two hours. This was on
January 10, 1865.
Miss Mary Wilson Curtin had Just
budded into her teens when her father
was elected Governor of Pennsylvania,
and was schoolgirl when she came
to Harrisburg to live at the executive
mansion. She was sprightly, good
natured and had charming manners
By the year of 1865 she had grown to
| be one of the nandsomest and most
| entertaining and most sought after of
| all the buds in society here and in
| Philadelphia, where she was well
known and is still remembered as
belle. One evening at an entertain
ment at the Governors mansion she
met young Capt. Henry Lloyd McCon-
| nell, a dashing officer of the army, y no
was taken i'll during the recep-
ton and was kindly taken care
OF by the Governors family.
This led to frequent meet
ings between Miss Curtin and young
Mcconnell, who was tine-looking
fellow, but OF no particular social
status, and would not have been lis
tened to by the Governor as sutton
for the hand OF his daughter. But
Cupid and the Captains shoulder
straps played havoc with the young
lady's heart. The result was that
one afternoon pair OF timid lovers
appeared in the Office OF old Squire
Mclaughlin and asked to be married.
The young lady was yelled. The
Justice did not dream that she was
the Governors daughter, whom he
knew by sight as one of the pretty
girls OF the town. He readily agreed
to perform the ceremony. His little
nephew, who was present, wit
messed the marriage certificate.
The young lady gave her name
as Miss Mary Wilson Curtin, with a
strong accent upon the last syllable.
The old Squire and his nephew are
both dead, but there is still a living
witness to this ceremony in Harris
burg-William Mclaughlin, the JUS
tice's son, who was home from the
war on furlough, and happened to
be in the office at the time. Capt.
Mcconnell" said Mr.. Mclaughlin in
relating the story OF the marriage,
twas a very handsome fellow; but
guess that's about all there was in
him."
The Captain walked down the street
to the Executive Mansion and left his
bride at the door, going to his
own quarters, presumably to LEI
the storm blow over. But the storm
never did blow over. The Governor
as was to have been expected, wa:
in towering rage when he was tolc
by his daughter what she had done
The young lady was hurried off to /
boarding-school and out OF reach, anc
negotiations were begun with the hus
band to get him out OF the way a.
well. Gov. Curtin's political power a
that time was greataI probably THAI
that of any man in the State, ant
| means were found to induce theyouni
and daring Captain to leave the Stat
and make no claims upon his wife, wn'
he was told had repented of her mar
riage and didn't care to see him an,
more. In few days the Captain LEI
Harrisburg and was lost sight OF b.
his friends here. He subsequently be
came United States Marshal In tn
West, where he now lives.
Whether the young bride proteste,
against the summary way IL whlc
she was snatched from her husband
arms is a matter OF conjecture, but !
was current gossip among the few VIII
knew of the circumstances that tn
irate Governor lad locked his daugf
ter up in her room in the Executiv
Mansion until the Captain was out
the way. The marriage was KEEP
pretty quiet considering the circun
stances, and, although the story dl
3 leak out in society in piecemeal sor
| of way, the particulars were neve
known, and the papers knew nothln
, OF the affair. As soon as the Legislf
r ture net divorce bill was presented
/. as has been seen, and the marrlae
: annulled. Since then Miss Curtin hs
e married a gentleman in every wa
. worthy of her, is well known IN soci
t ty circles at the national capital an
d in New York, and looks back upo
Q her youthful folly with the PHI
: osophy which comes with more sob'
years.